I know - the cheering is mental. I can't imagine getting excited because a stranger bought something. I don't know if it's a problem with fanatics or just a problem with consumer culture but it certainly seems to be more prevalent in the US.

Queuing for a new product is also pretty alien to me (I think the people who queue overnight each time the latest incremental upgrade of an iPhone is released probably need professional help) but it is worth pointing out that the online orders for Surfaces are currently backed up by about three weeks. If you really want to get your hands on one you don't have any choice but to queue.

I've heard about some Apple Store employees in the US cheering when the first customer walks through the door Heh, I could understand them cheering when it's time to go home at the end of their shift, but not right at the start

I'm a huge tech enthusiast but these people are simply crazy. Why would you want to stand in line waiting when you can simply preorder it online? And what sort of person shouts out in excitement in front of a bunch of strangers? These people are called fanatics for a reason.

Except they're not called fanatics and they're not crazy. They're just normal people who happened be excited enough for a product to line up for it. You make it seem like it's a rare occurrence for people to do such a thing when it happens quite often (for product launches). It's not like they're going to suffer from serious health issues from waiting in line.

As for the cheering, I think that was a little unnecessary. I'd only do it if someone won something.

I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that Microsoft paid those people to appear in lines.

Wow, what an ignorant comment. There were at least a couple hundred people in the line at the Microsoft Store in Houston. Everyone there was really excited also, and I don't think it was just because of the free donuts, water, candy, and hot chocolate.

Except they're not called fanatics and they're not crazy. They're just normal people who happened be excited enough for a product to line up for it. You make it seem like it's a rare occurrence for people to do such a thing when it happens quite often (for product launches). It's not like they're going to suffer from serious health issues from waiting in line.

As for the cheering, I think that was a little unnecessary. I'd only do it if someone won something.

Haha, yeah the cheering is unnecessary. They did that at the store I was at too but I'm not one to cheer for nothing either.